Chapter 2 Black Mail (Part )

"And where do you think you are going, Miss Cruz?" Miss Langit asked with her eyebrows raised.

"To my chair, ma'am, " Cissie replied with a dropped shoulders.

"Oh dear! Starting today, we have a new seat plan. You will be sitting beside Mr. Tan because he needs a translator whenever he wouldn't understand any Visayan word. Since you formally know each other, why don't you help him? Perhaps you can tour him around the campus when both of you have free time, " their teacher suggested. Cissie thought that she would just look like Jay's nanny who stalked him as she wasn't that pretty. In that case, she'd most likely get embarrassed.

"Don't be like that ma'am. I have already embarrassed myself in front of him. You can assign that to someone else, " Cissie tried to reject the offer. She knew that their teacher wanted her to be the gossip topic in the whole campus.

"Right, ma'am! Jay would be embarrassed as well. Jay will just become a laughing stock if people see him with Cissie, " Steph added. The whole class laughed, agreeing at Steph's mockery. She was the mortal enemy of Cissie.

"There are other people out there who fits to be with Jay, like me!" Steph continued.

"Shameless bitch!" Cissie whispered to herself. "Right, ma'am, just choose Steph so Jay wouldn't be abashed, " Cissie insisted.

"Sorry dear, I won't take no for an answer. Don't be picky. Sit down. Don't waste my time because we'll be having an important topic today. I'll be giving this ahead of time although this is for the upcoming Foundation Day celebration. I am informing you so as you can prepare as early as now, " Miss Langit seriously said.

"Yes ma'am, as you wish, " Cissie had no choice but to follow. She sat beside Jay. She almost couldn't look at Jay because of the humiliation she had, and then they wanted her to sit beside him. She just wished for the land to devour her to be able to escape the situation. Yet, she couldn't stand not asking for apologies for that humiliating situation he had on his first day of school after transferring from Manila.

"I really apologize for the inconvenience. It's just your first day in our school and you already got traumatized. I hope we didn't give you a wrong impression, " Cissie calmly said.

"Of course not! Actually, I should be the one to apologize. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be bullied like this. It appears to me that bullying is also rampant here, just like in Manila. By the way, are you okay?" Jay concernedly asked. Cissie could not respond right away. She seemed like mental blocked because of the way he looked at her. She knew that he's just worrying about her but that look really made her insane. It's as if her whole character was being judged; add to that his dreamy eyes.

"Don't be like that. It's my fault tho. Miss Langit, though strict but she's our best teacher. And my bully classmates, I'm already used to it. In fact, I'm about to graduate this year because of that, " Cissie jokingly responded. At last, she found something to answer him. Their conversation was interrupted when their teacher started talking.

"Okay, class. We know that we compete for the best production number every Foundation Day celebration. Our pride is at stake. Which is why, as early as now, we have to think of a really unique and superb production number. Something that would give the audience goose bumps. As much as possible, guys, keep this as our secret." Miss Langit started talking about the Foundation Day Celebration even though it will be held in the middle of the school year. The school management has this tradition of giving away a reward to those who has the best performance. Other than pride, their teacher was expecting to get the reward as well.

"That sounds exciting, ma'am!" Jeff exclaimed in happiness. He was into singing so he was expecting that he'd have some participation.

"Ma'am, would our section just have one performer? It would be better if some would dance and some would sing. Or, we could combine that in one performance. It could be a musical play or lyrical dance. We could include in the story a band playing when the play ends, " Steph suggested, who was also a drama queen. She didn't just like to join plays, but she was also dubbed as the drama queen because she over act something when the topic was about beauty.

"Your idea sounds great, Steph, " Miss Langit agreed, "but the question is, who among here knows how to play instruments?"

"Well, you can expect me when it comes to singing, ma'am! No one can beat me! I can sing any genre, " Jeff boasted.

"Hey! My question is regarding playing instruments, not singing. Isn't it obvious yet that you're addicted to singing? Okay, you will sing but find someone to sing with you." The teacher just let Jeff do his thing. He can really sing anything anyway.

"Ma'am, I'm not really that good but I can play drums, " Jun volunteered.

"Okay, that's good. Who else? Anyone who can play the guitar here? Just don't be shy. This is your time to shine." Their teacher's eyes were searching around the room because no one responded with what she said.

"Ma'am, I can play the guitar. I used to be in a band when I was in Manila, "Jay volunteered. No one in their section was good in playing guitars. Good thing Jay transferred to their section. Most of the girls started admiring Jay after learning he can play the guitar.

"OMG! Girls, he can play the guitar! He isn't just handsome, he's also a musician!" Steph's friends were screaming as if they saw a famous celebrity. They were all excited even though they haven't heard Jay play. In any case, anyone could look more attractive if he or she can play an instrument.